Ross’ pitching gem and Robertson walk off leads Softball to victory over No. 16 Kutztown on Senior Day
LOCK HAVEN – Talia Ross struck out a career-high 12 hitters and Abby Robertson hit a walk-off single to lead the Lock Haven softball team to a 3-2 victory over No. 16 Kutztown in game two of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division victory on Saturday afternoon. The Bald Eagles fell 4-2 in game one.
With the game two victory, the Bald Eagles improve to 15-23 on the season and 9-19 in the PSAC East. No. 16 Kutztown is now 32-13 overall and 16-10 in the conference.
Saturday was the Bald Eagles’ Senior Day and the program honored Maria Fratangelo, Chloe McElheny and Bella Schmitt prior to the start of game one.
Saturday’s victory over No. 16 Kutztown was the second nationally-ranked upset of the week for The Haven, who took down No. 10 East Stroudsburg 11-5 on Wednesday.
Game 2 Recap: Lock Haven 3, Kutztown 2
Game two Bald Eagle starting pitcher Ross pitched all seven innings and allowed just two runs on four hits and struck out 12 against one of the best lineups in NCAA DII.
However, the Bald Eagles still had their work cut out for them as Kutztown’s two runs came in the sixth and seventh inning and the Golden Bears held a 2-1 lead heading into the final three outs.
In the bottom of the seventh, Madison Hardy got things going with a line drive double down the right field line, before moving up to third on a sacrifice bunt by Evelyn Osborne.
Keri Wesneski kept the rally going as the next hitter and tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI single to left field.
Blair Balestrini recorded the Bald Eagles’ third hit of the inning with a single to right, but a perfect relay by the Golden Bears’ right fielder secured the second out of the inning.
Robertson responded with a clutch two-hot single to right field to plate Balestrini and clinch the walk-off victory for the Bald Eagles.
The Haven finished with a game-high nine hits, while Balestrini, Robertson, Schmitt and Hardy all finished with two base knocks.
Game 1 Recap: Kutztown 4, Lock Haven 2
Despite the outcome, the Bald Eagles played another tough game against one of the nation’s best and were edged out by the Golden Rams 4-2.
Kutztown used a three-run rally in the top of the third inning and strong starting pitching to secure the victory.
The Bald Eagles’ two runs came in the bottom of the fourth inning off a two-run single by Fratangelo.
Five different Bald Eagles recorded hits, led by a three-hit game by Balestrini and a double by Madison Melius.
Wesneski pitched all seven innings for The Haven and limited the Golden Bears to four runs on nine hits, while striking out one.
Next up for The Haven:
The Bald Eagles finish the 2025 season on the road with a pair of PSAC East doubleheaders. Lock Haven will travel to Bloomsburg on Tuesday (April 22) and Shippensburg on Friday (April 25).
